SACRAMENTO, Calif. — In an impressive performance, LeBron James scored 19 points, recorded six rebounds, and dished out seven assists as he set a new NBA record for regular-season minutes played, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a 113-100 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Thursday night.
James clocked 34 minutes on the hardwood during the match, bringing his total career minutes to 57,471, surpassing the previous record of 57,446 held by the legendary Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Anthony Davis was a standout contributor alongside James, posting 21 points and grabbing 20 rebounds in what was the first contest of a two-game series at Golden 1 Center. Austin Reaves was on fire, scoring 35 points, while D’Angelo Russell chipped in with 16 points as the Lakers improved their record to 15 wins and 12 losses, marking their third win in the last four games.
Though the Kings were behind for much of the game, they managed to narrow the gap to 93-90 after De’Aaron Fox hit a jumper with eight minutes left. However, a quick bank shot from Reaves followed by two free throws from Davis led to a 10-2 spurt that enabled the Lakers to create some distance on the scoreboard.
Fox had a noteworthy game for the Kings, tallying 26 points, five assists, and three steals. Meanwhile, Domantas Sabonis contributed with 18 points, 12 rebounds, and nine assists, while Malik Monk added 17 points to the effort.
In terms of key takeaways, the game saw Davis take a hard fall in the fourth quarter, prompting some concern as he remained on the floor for a brief period. Despite a limp, he remained in the game and quickly made a crucial defensive play.
Sacramento’s slow starts continued to hinder their performance, as they fell behind by 14 points early in the match. Although they took the lead in the second quarter, they struggled to keep pace in the fourth, spending the entire period trailing behind the Lakers.
A pivotal moment came when Fox picked up his fifth foul with 6:47 remaining in the second half, forcing him to the sideline. His absence limited him to just 11 minutes of play for the remainder of the game.
In a notable statistic, just days after conceding 76 points in the paint against Denver, the Kings managed to restrict the Lakers to 44 points inside the key.
Looking ahead, the Lakers and Kings will face off again in Sacramento on Saturday to conclude their two-game matchup.